Precision vapor or sand blasting machines



w. M. BOLTON ET AL 2,901,867

PRECISION VAPOR OR SAND BLASTING MACHINES Filed Oct. 17. 1957 Sept. 1,1959 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR WILBUR M. BOLTON RAYMOND L. RUSE ATTORNEYs I Sept. 1, 1959 w. M. BOLTON ET AL PRECISION VAPOR OR SAND BLASTINGMACHINES 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Oct. 17. 1957 v INVENTOR WILBUR M.BOLTON RAYMOND LRUSE BY mfTuw ATTORNEY United States Patent PRECISIONVAPOR OR SAND BLASTING MACHlNES Wilbur M. Bolton, Piqua, and Raymond L.Ruse, Dayton, Ohio, assignors to The Commonwealth Engineering Company ofOhio, Dayton, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Application October 17, 1957,Serial No. 690,829

3 Claims. (Cl. '51-15) This invention relates to the treatment ofsurfaces, particularly to surfaces of cylindrical shaped objects; moreparticularly the invention relates to an appartus and method for theblasting of cylindrical surfaces to clean or roughen the same.

In certain applications where wire, for example, is to be coated withmetal it is frequently desirable to initially clean the wire surfaceprior to the deposition of the metallic coating. In some instanceselongated elements, such as insulated wire, are to be plated with metaldeposited, for example, from a thermal decomposable metal bearingcompound, and to insure adhesion of the deposited coating it ispreferable to initially roughen the insulation surrounding the elongatedelement.

It is an object of this invention to provide a novel method for treatingsurfaces, such as resin insulated wire, in order to roughen the samewithout penetrating the insulation to any material extent.

In the practice of this invention a very fine abrasive material,sufficiently fine to be readily suspended in a liquid, is utilized. Suchabrasive may be of a 3,000 to 5,000 grit, whereas normal sand-blastingprocedures utilize a grit of only about 500. The utilization of the veryfine particles, in addition to providing a very uniform treatment of thesurface, aifects the surface very slightly.

In order to provide for uniformity the elongated elements treated inaccordance with this invention are rotated while being passedlongitudinally through a housing, in which the element is subjected tothe action of a blast, comprising an abrasive containing spray formedfrom a suspension of the abrasive in liquid.

Accordingly an important object of the invention is to provide a novelapparatus for the practice of the invention.

A further object of the invention is to provide an apparatus arrangementwhich inhibits vibration of the elongated elements while the same areundergoing treatment with the spray of abrasive material.

The invention will be more fully understood by reference to thefollowing detailed description and accompanying drawings wherein:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the apparatus of invention;

Figure 2 is a plan view of the apparatus of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a fragmentary view, enlarged and partially in section, of ahousing wherein the elongated elements are subjected to the action ofthe blast containing the abrasive material; and

Figure 4 is an elevational view of a housing similar to the housing ofFigure 3 but illustrating a further modification of the housing.

Referring now to the drawings, and particularly Figure 1, the numeral 1designates vertically extending support members in the form of angleirons. Channel members 3 are disposed across opposed pairs of themembers 1 and are Welded thereto.

A pair of tubular cylindrical rods 5 extend in parallel relation betweenthe channel members 3 and are secured to the latter by brackets 7. Theserods 5 form ways or guides for a pair of slides designated at 9, 11. Theslide 9 comprises elongated cylindrical bearing elements 13, betweenwhich there extends a transverse angle member 15 having a horizontalportion 17 and an upstanding portion 19. The slide 11 is similarlyprovided with elongated cylindrical bearing elements 21, a transverseangle member 23 having a horizontal portion 25, and an upstandingportion 27.

Rigid rods 29, 31 extend between the slides and secure the slidestogether for movement as a unit in one rectilineal direction. Rod 29 isbolted between ears 33, 35 of the slides, while rod 31 is bolted betweenrods 37, 39 carried by the slides.

Rod 31 itself carries limit switch actuators designated at 41, 43. Thecable 45 extends continuously from the horizontal portion 17 of theslide 9, about pulley 47, drum 49, pulley 51, through the slides 9, 11,over the pulley 53, and is secured at its other end (Figure 2) to thehorizontal portion 25 on slide 11.

A bracket 55 mounted on the channel member 3 supports the pulley 47while a pin 57 in the other channel member 3 mounts the pulley 53. Abelt 59 passes over a pulley 61 mounted on a bracket 63 supported from avertical member 1. A similar bracket 65 supports the other end of thedrum 49, as shown in Figure 1. Belt 59 also passes over the pulley 67mounted on a shaft of the gear reduction unit 69 driven by the motor 71.Motor 71 is reversible and operation of the motor is effective to movethe slides rectilineally in either direction, as desired.

Supports 73 of any suitable kind brace 21 housing 75, which, as shown inFigure 1, is positioned between the parallel tubular members 5 and alsobetween the slides 9, 11. Housing 75, at its upper end, is provided witha motor 77 and a blower 79 for exhausting the interior of the housingthrough the conduit 81.

Secured to the lower end of the housing is a bowl 83. Air pressure issupplied through line from valve 87 to the interior of the housing 75;air pressure is also supplied through line 85, line 89 and valve 91 tothe bottom of the bowl 83.

The housing 75 has apertures 93 therethrough, one of which is shown inFigure l, and through which there passes an insulated wire 95. In thepresent instance the wire 95 may be considered as copper wire coatedwith a thin film of resin, such as Formvar, for example. One end of thiswire 95 is secured in a Jacobs chuck 97, while the opposite end of thewire is secured in another chuck 99 carried by the slide 11. The chuck97 is itself mounted on a shaft with a relatively large gear 101, whichis driven from a gear 103 mounted on the drive shaft of an electricmotor 105. Operation of motor 105 is effective to rotate the wire 95even while the wire is being transferred through the housing 75 byoperation of the motor 71.

A pin 107 on the upstanding portion 19 of the slide 9 provides forsupport of the gear 101, while a tensioning nut 109 mounted on theupstanding portion 27 of the slide 11 provides for the maintaining oftension on the wire 95.

Referring now to Figure 3, the conduit 85 extends inwardly of thehousing and terminates in a nozzle 110, which is itself mounted abovethe aperture 93 to provide for the passage of the wire 95 through thehousing. Communicating with the conduit 85 internally of the housing isa conduit 111 which extends downwardly into a pool 113, comprising asuspension of abrasive material in water.

As may be most clearly seen from Figure 3 the bowl 83, which retains thepool 113, is provided with a peripheral lip 115 against which a clampingring 117 is provided for support of the bowl. The clamping ring 117 3threadedly engages a lower portion 119 of the housing and compresses agasket 121 between the housing and bowl. Thus the bowl is resilientlymounted against shock provided for easy removal from the housing. Tofurther facilitaterembval of the bowl from the housing acoupling 123 isprovided to secure the conduit 89 to the bowl 83.

Referring now again to Figure 1, the numeral 125 designates a supportfor switches 127, 129; switch 129 being engageable by the limit switchactuators 41, 43 when the device is in operation. In this connection itis to be noted that only one limit switch actuator is necessary for theoperation of the device since the wire may be transferred fromone end tothe other. However, both the limit switch actuators-will be employed ifthe machine were operated in such manner that the initial blastingoperation were commenced with the housing 75 intermediate the distancebetween the two sides. Similarly both switchesmay be employed if it isdesired to reverse the wire direction automatically and to pass itthrough the housing a number of times, that is to oscillate the wirethrough the housing past the nozzle.

Referring now to the mode of operation of the device, it is preferableto initially-charge the bowl 83 with approximately one quart of waterand an initial volume of abrasive material of about 5000 grit. Theabrasive material may be, for example, a Pangbornite abrasive, which isa very fine powder. This powder is mixed with the water by any suitablemechanical means, such as a manually operated or a motor operatedstirrer.

If desired, to aid suspension, a small amount of a suspension agent,such as Pangborn Sure-Flo may be provided, one thimble full per quart ofwater is suflicient. Such is generally employed only if the abrasivecontaining suspension is to stand for any length of time.

After placing the suspension in the bowl the clamping ring 117 ismounted onto the threads at 115, as already described, and conduit 89 isconnected to the bowl. Valves 87, 91 are at this time closed; however,conduit 81 is open to exhaust. Valve 91 is then open to admit of a slowrelease of air into the mixing bowl 83. This occasions a constantbubbling which is desirable to keep the suspension uniform. In thisconnection it is to be noted that where the device is used onintermittent operation, it is generally desirable to maintain the valve91 slightly open to provide a continuous agitation of the suspension.

The elongated element, such as the resin coated wire, is then passedthrough the apertures of the housing and is retained in place at eachend by the Jacobs chucks 97, 99, the wire being tightened by tensioningnut 109 (Fig ure 2). 'Switch 129 is then employed to position the slidessuch that one slide approaches the housing 75 to within a distance ofabout 8-10 inches, as indicated in Figure 2.

' Switch 129 is then de-energized and the rotation motor switch 127 isthen energized to cause rotation of the elongatedelement 95. Switch 129is then again energized to occasion longitudinal movement of the slidesin the rightwardly direction shown in Figure 2. At this time valve 87 isopened and the flow of air through the line 85 towards the nozzle 110causes the liquid suspension to be drawn through the conduit 111 to thenozzle.

Thus the combination of conduits 85, 111 functions as an aspirator toprovide the spray of suspension material at the nozzle. The flow ofcompressed air blasts the spray of suspension material against the wire95, traversing the housing 75, and since the wire is being rotated aswell asv moving longitudinally, the resin coat of the wire is uniformlyroughened.

Normally the slides are moved such that the slide 11 approaches thehousing 75. (Figure 2) to within about 840 inches. At this time thelimit switch actuator 43 engages-the switch 109 and cuts oif the motor71. The rotation motor switch 127 is then cut off manually.

Thereafter the longitudinal motor switch 129 is again actuated,preferably manually, to run the slides sufliciently far from the housingto permit the operator to manipulate the Jacobs chuck 99; releasing thetension nut 109 and the chuck 99 frees the elongated element at one endand the opposite end of the element may be withdrawn from the chuck 97.

Referring now to Figure 4, there is illustrated an arrangement of handholes in the housing 75 and through which the Wire 95 passes in sealedrelation. Scaling is effected by flexible components of rubber,rubberized fabric or similar materials 136 which cover the ports 131.Bolt and nut combinations or rivets as at 132 retain the flexiblecomponents positioned while the components seal against the wire 95.Also the materials serve as dampening media for they tend to dampenvibration in the elongated element undergoing the treatment.

The structure and mode of operation described are particularlyapplicable to the blasting with very fine powders capable of suspensionin a liquid which is itself subject to formation into a spray.

It will be understood that this invention is susceptible to modificationin order to adapt it to diiferent usages and conditions and accordingly,it is desired to comprehend such modifications within this invention asmay fall within the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In combination in abrading apparatus; a housing; a bowl on the :lowerend of the housing for retaining a liquid suspension containing anabrasive, the housing having apertures above the bowl for the passagetransversely of the housing of an elongated element; retaining means oneither side of said housing for retaining an elongated element passedthrough the apertures of the housing; a slide for each of said retainingmeans, the slides being mounted for movement in one rectilinealdirection together whereby said wire may be moved through the housing inone direction, means carried by one of the slides operably connected fordriving the element in rotation; other means operably connected with oneof the slides for driving the slides in rectilineal movement, and.

a nozzle communicabie with the bowl and positioned to direct a spray ofthe suspension to an element passing through the apertures of thehousing.

2. In a vapor blasting device, in combination, longitudinally extendingways in spaced parallel relation; a pair of slides in longitudinallyspaced relation extending transversely between and supported by theways; rigid means connecting the slides for movement together along theways; retaining means provided on each slide whereby an elongatedelement may be retained between the slides; means for driving theretaining means of one of the slides in rotation relative to the slide;a housing between the Ways and between the slides, said housing havingapertures therethrough aligned for passage of an elongated elementretained by the said retaining means of the slides; means engaging oneof the slides for effecting slide movement; means to limit the slidemovement in one rectilineal direction, and a nozzle positioned to directa spray of an abrasive material to an element passing through theapertures of the housing.

3. in a vapor blasting device, in combination; longitudinally extendingways supported in spaced parallel relation; a pair of slides in opposedlongitudinally spaced relation extending transversely between andsupported by the ways; tie rod means connecting the slides together formovement along the ways; a chuck on each slide for retaining androtatably supporting an elongated element; a motor operably connectedwith one of the chucks for driving the chuck and an elongated elementsupported by the chuck in rotation relative to the slide; a housingmounted between the ways transversely and between the slideslongitudinally, said housing having aligned apertures for the passagethrough the housing of an elongated 5 element supported between thechucks; means for driving the slides on the ways in rectilinealmovement; means for limiting the rectilineal movement of the slides inone direction, and a. nozzle positioned to direct a spray of an abrasivematerial to an element passing through the apertures of the housing.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS CutterNov. 19, 1918 Bidle Apr. 21, 1936 Crowley Dec. 19, 1944 Henrard Oct. 16,1951 Gladfelter Oct. 7, 1952 Russell Dec. 16, 1952

